Gift Of The Magi - The Lost Abbey

cjoc83

Pennsylvania

3.44/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

My first Lost Abbey beer, and expectations are high given the praise that is heaped upon the brewery on this site. A 2012 Gift of the Magi ($11.50 at the local Wegmans in southeastern PA) pours a cloudy ruby/brown with an initial 3 fingers worth of light khaki head that recedes to a small layer and leaves sparse lacing.

Not getting much info off the bottle as far as the style or taste of the beer goes (besides the fact that it's brewed with Brett), I learn on BA that this is a virgin style for me, a Biere de Garde. The Brett is evident in the nose with some slight yeasty funk and horse blanket, but underneath that is sweet caramel and biscuity malt and a touch of hops. So far so good.

The flavor is a bit underwhelming, but nevertheless pleasant. Musty funk and bready malt intermingle with some subdued sweet brown sugar and earthy hops, but the finish (especially as the beer warms) is quite nice as some ever so slightly tart fruit mixes with a bitter, spicy hop note.

Medium bodied with a fair amount of carbonation. A small amount of heat is noticeable in the finish, but if I didn't know the abv was 10%, I would guess it around 7.5 or 8. Pretty well hidden.

Overall, a solid enough beer, but somewhat disappointing given the high expectations I had for it (which, in hindsight, were unreasonable as I initially thought this was a wild ale when I bought the bomber). The flavors were good, but too subtle. If the Gift of the Magi tasted as good as it smells, I would be picking up another bottle of this. For now, I'm content to try something else from LA. Certainly drinkable and I can appreciate the craftsmanship, but not really my cup of tea. Maybe BdG's just aren't my thing. I'm still very excited to try other offerings from the Lost Abbey.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 04:26:35 | More by cjoc83

SanFranJake

California

2.75/5  rDev -28.2%

05-20-2013 01:42:11 | More by SanFranJake

moonknight31

California

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-16-2013 16:56:40 | More by moonknight31

Casey3236

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-16-2013 03:35:30 | More by Casey3236

Zimm

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-10-2013 11:24:36 | More by Zimm

drlovemd87

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-10-2013 03:11:39 | More by drlovemd87

nquigley16

Massachusetts

3.94/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled 10/27/11
Poured into a hennepin goblet.

Appearance- Pours a dark amber brown with hints of a red and a hefty light tan head. A little cloudiness, but pretty clear.

Aroma- Starts with a bit of alcohol, but breaks up into a bunch of other flavors- pineapple, bubblegum, whole wheat bread and a little must.

Taste- Lots of Brett characteristics coming through obviously. A nice maltiness that is balanced by a relatively strong booziness. Pretty sweet as well with some pineapple flavors coming through in the after taste. A little bit of dark fruit, almost like a Belgian dark ale, but just hints of that.

Mouthfeel- A little slippery but somewhat dry in the aftertaste. Medium carbonation levels.

Overall- Nice beer. Nothing to crave but it does the job and has a pretty nice complex flavor profile. It's not the most amazing, but it definitely is well balanced and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 02:48:48 | More by nquigley16

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

04-27-2013 08:56:03 | More by Kelp

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +4.4%

04-24-2013 02:53:10 | More by randylangford

thampel09

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

04-23-2013 19:25:47 | More by thampel09

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev +4.4%

04-20-2013 14:25:08 | More by drgonzo2k2

LB22

Colorado

4/5  rDev +4.4%

04-12-2013 03:10:25 | More by LB22

largadeer

California

3/5  rDev -21.7%

04-08-2013 21:18:17 | More by largadeer

beans923

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +24%

04-06-2013 14:08:12 | More by beans923

heavenlyStash

California

4.5/5  rDev +17.5%

04-03-2013 18:45:25 | More by heavenlyStash

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev +4.4%

03-23-2013 23:14:18 | More by Sparky44

ambruns1979

California

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

03-21-2013 22:24:06 | More by ambruns1979

Jayli

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +4.4%

03-21-2013 20:49:05 | More by Jayli

alamode

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +4.4%

03-13-2013 09:43:29 | More by alamode

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Bottle shared by Zack, 750ml into a tulip - 2011 vintage.

Reddish brown, with a huge tan head. Great lacing and spots of retention. Nose is malty, fruity, some brett, light spice and some musty character. Taste is malt forwars, yeasty, musty, darker fruits, bitter finish. Medium feel, medium high carbonation. Nice malt and yeast character, but the hop bitterness that lingers detracts from this for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 16:24:23 | More by liamt07

nzerbe

New York

3/5  rDev -21.7%

03-09-2013 15:58:23 | More by nzerbe

LarryMyers

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +11%

03-09-2013 12:46:19 | More by LarryMyers

orangesol

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

03-07-2013 20:09:00 | More by orangesol

kp29

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev +11%

03-02-2013 06:17:59 | More by kp29

AOShabaz

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

03-01-2013 17:48:26 | More by AOShabaz